Join Us for Primary Victory Celebration Tuesday Feb. 2nd!

Meeting will be at Booker's Bar & Grill at 420 N. McLean Blvd. in South Elgin at 7PM after the polls close.  Attending will be Dan Kairis, Green nominee for US 14th CD.  

See you there!

ILLINOIS GREENS CONDEMN APPROVAL OF

"PROTECT INCUMBENTS ACT", URGE QUINN TO VETO

Greens are calling on Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to veto House Bill 723, a bill which is expected to substantially reduce the number of candidates for General Assembly and increase the number of uncontested races by adding hurdles to the post-primary slating process.

Slating is the ability of party leaders to choose a candidate for office when no candidate runs in that party’s primary.  HB723, if signed, would add the requirement that a slated candidate would need to collect a number of signatures from voters.  For General Assembly, this number is flat – 500 for House and 1000 for Senate – and is often very difficult to achieve for minority parties within a district.  In addition, unlike the 90 day period in advance of a primary, the post-slating collection period is no more than 75 days – and those days are mostly in the poor weather months of February and March.  The effective result of the bill will be to eliminate competition in several General Assembly races.

"This bill is just the latest example of widespread above-the-board corruption to come out of Springfield," said Phil Huckelberry, Illinois Green Party Chair.  "Democratic and Republican legislators found something they could agree on:  protecting their own jobs."

Unopposed races are already very frequent in Illinois.  In November 2008, 59 of 118 House races and 20 of 40 Senate races were completely unopposed.  Without slated candidates, an additional 24 House and 8 Senate races would have been unopposed.  Over the past four election years (2002-2008), 42 Republicans, 29 Democrats, and 15 Greens were slated onto the November ballot for State Representative.  In the same time period, 23 Republicans, 11 Democrats, and 2 Greens were slated onto the November ballot for State Senator.

The lack of opposed races directly impacts the high incumbency rate in Illinois.  In election years 2004, 2006, and 2008, when a candidate who had won the previous election for a given seat sought reelection, that incumbent won 388 out of 400 times, for an incumbency rate of 97%; and 6 of those 12 defeats were in primaries.

"Many legislators claimed this legislation was needed to balance the scales for incumbents and challengers – as if incumbents need any more help getting elected," said Tom Abram, Green candidate for 103rd Representative in 2006.  "But Illinois' corrupt political system is already rigged to heavily favor incumbents.  Now they want the rules to be further stacked so that they will not only win, but they won't even have to run against anyone."

When the bill came before the Senate, chief sponsor Terry Link (D-30) falsely claimed the post-slating rules were identical to the primary qualification rules, and he was not challenged on the floor.  In addition, during testimony before the Senate Elections Committee, Green Party leaders called out Sen. Link on false claims he made before that body, which resulted in the bill being amended.  Sen. Link admitted in committee testimony that the bill was aimed directly at the Green Party, because of Green candidates who had been slated for General Assembly in 2008.

"Terry Link must be really afraid of the Green Party," said AJ Segneri, Illinois Green Party Membership Steward.  "That fear must explain his difficulty telling the truth to his fellow senators."

Greens also noted that while the Illinois Reform Commission's recent report did not address ballot access issues directly, it did provide a number of recommendations to deal with incumbency protection issues, such as computerized redistricting to end gerrymandering.  Greens take this as a sign that Governor Quinn will listen to calls to veto HB723.

"Pat Quinn has built his reputation as a reformer, but Mike Madigan and John Cullerton have gone out of their way to block reform," said Huckelberry.  "Now Quinn has an opportunity to block a corrupt piece of legislation.  We hope that he will do the right thing."

Kane Green Member Testifies at Illinois Senate Elections Committee Hearing  on April 28th

Dan Kairis, local Green member and 2008 Green Party candidate for State Representative for the 55th District, recently spoke with other Illinois Greens in Springfield against Illinois House Bill 723, somewhat humorously nicknamed "The Protect Incumbents Act".  This bill would greatly restrict the ability of third party and independent candidates to get on the ballot, thus making it easier for incumbents to retain their seats.  See the story at these links...

http://www.qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=437200

http://www.dailyillini.com/opinions/editorials/2009/04/14/house-bill-723-attacks-underrepresented-parties

http://www.ilgp.org/

ECCO Expo Update

The Kane Country Greens distributed 400 seedlings at the ECCO Expo at Elgin Community College April 25th. The Arbor Day Foundation provided the free seedlings. The seedlings included a wide variety of evergreens. The trees grow 40 to 60 feet at maturity providing a natural habit and food for many birds and mammals.

Dan and Josh Kairis and Julie Schmitt manned the table for the day. We were able to talk with hundreds of people who appreciated receiving the trees and becoming aware of the Green Party. A good number of people were interested in the work of the Kane County Greens and were also interested in the Illinois Green Party. Along with the trees we distributed a few dozen party membership forms. We also demonstrated the environmental costs of unattended electronic devices with a Kill-A-Watt display.

Kane Greens Donate to Food Pantry

“I’ve never seen the need as great as it is now.” - Maj. Ken Nicolai

Press Release Elgin Il. April 3, 2009-The Kane Country Greens contributed $350 to the Salvation Army food pantry. Ken Nicolai, Major of the Salvation Army in Elgin, accepted the donation from Dan Kairis, chair of the Kane County Greens. Kairis told the Major that the KCG group approved the donation at their last meeting.

In an interview, conducted by Brad Kairis, Major Nicolai stated through his 23 years of experience, five at the Elgin Salvation Army, “I’ve never seen the need as great as it is now.” In my 23 years, Major Nicolai explains, “I’ve never been worried about food supplies, but I am worried now. Last November we ran out of food.”

“In the month of March we served 800 families. Usually we only serve between 200 to300 during that month. “The biggest problem is unemployment, which continues to grow in the Elgin area. And, even though some families receive unemployment assistance, others simply aren’t qualified. Some families depend on an additional part-time job to pay the bills,” he declared.

Even families receiving unemployment assistance, however, only receive 70-80% of their former income. For families living “from paycheck to paycheck,” as Major Nicolai points out, “this assistance isn’t always enough.”

Anyone interested in sending donations can mail a check to The Salvation Army, 314 Douglas Ave, Elgin, 60120. The Salvation Army also accepts food donations. According to Major Nicolai, “it is imperative that we keep a full supply available during these times.”

Volunteers are also necessary to bag and pack up groceries Friday mornings, and to distribute them Friday afternoons. Volunteers can contact the Army at 847-741-2304 for details.

Kane Greens guiding policy

Our mission is to work towards fairness and social cooperation in an informed community fostering environmental protection, respect for diversity, responsible corporate behavior, responsible taxation and spending, and peace through justice.

Think Green Party

Answer any of these questions...

Are you for a continuing war in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Do you agree that we should be able to attack countries such as Syria and Pakistan in search of terrorists?

Are you in favor of attacking Iran because they are supposedly trying to secure Weapons of Mass Destruction?

Do you think our nation is doing all it can to prevent global warming or preserve our resources?

Were you in favor of the Wall Street bailout?

Do you think the health care insurance companies are "in your corner" and support you 100%?

Is Illinois government working well for its citizens?

If you answered "NO" to any of these questions, why are you considering more of the same from the Democrats and Republicans?

Consider all your options.  It is your right as an American citizen.  It is your reponsiblity as an American citizen. 

Vote for your hopes, not your fears...

Vote Green!

And Speaking of Voting Green...

Illinois Green Party Unity Slate for 2010

LeAlan M. Jones         United States Senator
Rich Whitney             Governor

Don W. Crawford       Lieutenant Governor

David F. Black             Attorney General

Adrian Frost                Secretary of State

R. Erika Schafer          State Comptroller

Scott K. Summers       State Treasurer

Dan Kairis                   US 14th Congressional District

Like Minded People

 Fox Valley Citizens for Peace & Justice will meet at 9AM on the first Saturday of the month at the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren 783 W Highland Avenue in Elgin. For directions or questions call 847-742-6602.

Elgin Climate Change Organization "...our mission is to explore personal values and habits as they relate to climate change.  To understand the history & science of global warming.  To empower individuals to take action to curb global warming."

Weston A. Price Group in Elgin: "...we venture on this journey of overcoming the pitfalls of our current standard American food chain."

Geneva Green Market: Locally grown food.

Erewhon Farms: Community supported agriculture in Geneva.

Health Care for All Illinois: "...a statewide coalition advocating a single-payer health system to guarantee access to comprehensive, equal health care for all Illinoisians."

Northern Illinois Food Bank:  This highly rated charity provides food to food banks in all the counties surrounding Cook County. "Learn more about the efforts of Northern Illinois Food Bank and its mission to provide nutritious food to all those in need through its own efforts and those of its nonprofit partners."

Links

DuPage Greens http://www.dupagegreens.org/

Illinois Green Party  http://www.ilgp.org/

US Green Party  http://www.gp.org/index.php

Like more info on Kane Greens? 

Email Dan at ipil2005@yahoo.com.

What do Greens believe in?  Click here.